Climate change and the next phase of the growth and jobs strategy – two big issues on the agenda for the spring meeting of EU leaders (Brussels 13-14 March).
Communication is a two-way business. Stopping the blame game between the EU’s institutions and its member countries is an essential first step towards working better together.
Sunday 25 March is just behind us – the date marking 50 years since the signing of the Treaty of Rome and the birth of the EU. The perfect time to look back and rediscover people and moments that have defined these 50 years.
Concerts, festivals, debates, exhibitions, sports events and much more brought people from all over Europe together on 24 and 25 March to celebrate the EU's 50th birthday.
"The union is turning shared ideals into reality for its citizens", claims the Berlin declaration, signed by leaders gathered in Berlin for the 50th anniversary of the treaty of Rome. It is a vision for the EU, reasserting shared values and outlining ambitions for the future.
As the EU lights the candles for its fiftieth birthday, it is good to remember the benefits of being European. Some of these are lined up for you on a new website bringing together 50 of Europe's greatest successes.
Under the motto "Your Europe – your future", March 24-25 will see more than 200 young Europeans coming together in Rome to debate the future direction of the EU and send a message to its leaders.
Festivals, art exhibitions, concerts, football matches, TV and radio shows – March will see the climax of celebrations for the anniversary of the treaty founding the EU, signed on 25 March 50 years ago.
On February 7, 1992, the leaders of the then twelve members of the EU agreed on an ambitious document that heralded a number of major achievements, above all the creation of a single currency, the euro.
As part of a special "EU project day", officials from the EU have gone back to their old schools across Germany to help bring European ideals a little closer to pupils there. The event highlighted the need for EU affairs to feature more prominently in German school curricula.
The 50th anniversary of the birth of what is now the European Union - 25 March - is fast approaching and plans for celebrations throughout Europe and beyond are well underway. As well as looking back, this will be the moment to look forward to Europe’s future.
Young people from all over Europe are getting together this weekend in Brussels to plan a historical EU summit. A little over two months before the actual event in Rome, this weekend will host debates and launch a consultation process.
The European constitution will be high on the agenda of the incoming German EU presidency. Other priorities include growth and jobs, improving freedom, security, justice and stability for all Europeans, and tackling climate change.
Ten examples have been selected from 2006 of how the EU is working to
improve your economic and social well-being – these include sending out
peacekeepers, developing a satellite navigation system, making chemicals safer
and reducing roaming charges for mobile phones.
How can the EU be more effective? This was the question debated by national
and European parliamentarians at the second parliamentary meeting on the future
of Europe (Brussels, 4-5 December). The focus was on future financing, the
prevention of conflicts and energy policy.
Specialised agencies working throughout Europe in fields as varied as public
health and fundamental human rights publicise their services through a new
campaign launched on 1 December.
MEPs debated the strengths and weaknesses of the Commission’s work programme for 2007 when it was presented to the European Parliament on 14 November. While welcoming the focus on climate change, they also pressed for more progress on EU growth and job creation and the UN's millennium development goals.
In the aftermath of the French and Dutch 'no' to the Constitution, the
European Commission has developed a new approach to European communication that
puts citizens at the heart of European policies. One year later, find out what
Margot Wallström, Vice President in charge of institutional relations and
communication strategy, has to say on communicating Europe to its citizens.
